Yanks sign Burnett

[koolzach1]

Agreed. As a sox fan, I honestly get childish giddy joy watching the Yankees spend grotesquely on FA's and then fall apart early in the season. Of late they have played better in the last couple 2nd halves, but it doesn't take the enjoyment gained early in the season as they struggle and have bewilderment on their faces as they can't figure it out. It is great comedy.

The moves are really pushing the sox to sign Texiera and I must say i'm growing to the idea and want to see it happen. Keep those big FA signings coming Yucks...I love it!

As a Yanks fan, I have loved that the team spends money to make it to the playoffs 14 straight times. There was a slight hiccup, but we're now getting back on track to make another long run and continue the rich history of winning... It's a Yankee tradition.

[Swampdog]

Burnett is nothing special. He isnt bad, he just isnt great either. He will be 32 next month. He actually wasn't especially good last year, and no reason to expect he will be better this year. Counting Masterson (only 9 starts, I know), the Red Sox had 5 starting pitchers that were better than Burnett was last year. The Yanks have just committed themselves to paying a quarter of a billion dollars to Sabathia and Burnett. I find that to be...interesting.

[koolzach1]

Burnett is nothing special. He isnt bad, he just isnt great either. He will be 32 next month. He actually wasn't especially good last year, and no reason to expect he will be better this year. Counting Masterson (only 9 starts, I know), the Red Sox had 5 starting pitchers that were better than Burnett was last year. The Yanks have just committed themselves to paying a quarter of a billion dollars to Sabathia and Burnett. I find that to be...interesting.

The only SP's that I count on the Red Sox that had a better season than Burnett last year was Lester and Dice-K. Also, ya know... people (especially Sawx fans) keep saying that Burnett is very injury prone, but he's actually made right around the same amount of starts as Beckett the last couple of years. Plus, Cito Gaston has been saying that Burnett is the healthiest he's ever been.

It will be interesting in the AL East yet again this year.

Tampa:
Kazmir
Shields
Garza
Sonnanstine
Price

Boston:
Beckett
Dice-K
Lester
Lowe???
Wakefield/Masterson/Buchholz

New York:
Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Pettite/Sheets
Joba

[OldFatGuy]

The only SP's that I count on the Red Sox that had a better season than Burnett last year was Lester and Dice-K. Also, ya know... people (especially Sawx fans) keep saying that Burnett is very injury prone, but he's actually made right around the same amount of starts as Beckett the last couple of years. Plus, Cito Gaston has been saying that Burnett is the healthiest he's ever been.

It will be interesting in the AL East yet again this year.

Tampa:
Kazmir
Shields
Garza
Sonnanstine
Price

Boston:
Beckett
Dice-K
Lester
Lowe???
Wakefield/Masterson/Buchholz

New York:
Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Pettite/Sheets
Joba

This is a good point. And at face value, it does look like three solid rotations. The weakness though (IMO and I'm not a Yankee hater) is of those three rotations, which one looks the most prone to injury? To me, it looks like New York. But I could be (and probably am) wrong.

[TheNamelessPoet]

I would say out of the 3 its
#1Tampa
#2aNY
#2bBoston

[5DiMaggio]

This is a good point. And at face value, it does look like three solid rotations. The weakness though (IMO and I'm not a Yankee hater) is of those three rotations, which one looks the most prone to injury? To me, it looks like New York. But I could be (and probably am) wrong.

I think Dice-K, Beckett snd Wakefield are more injury p[rone than the Yankees rotation.

[Swampdog]

Lester, Matsuzaka and Masterson all pitched much better than Burnett last year. Wakefield was better than Burnett. Colon, when he pitched, was better than Burnett was. Beckett was better than Burnett. Burnett gets credit for msking more than 25 starts (second time in the past 6 years).

I didn't say that all these pitchers had a "better season" than Burnett....I said they were better...and they were. Some just didnt pitch as much. Although, they all did have better seasons, except Masterson and Colon.

The Yanks lost their best pitcher, Mussina. Pettitte was very average, and may be gone. Wang is coming back from an injury. Chamberlain has issues....health and otherwise. Kennedy and Hughes...well, to say they flopped is being kind. Burnett, as I said, is nothing special, although an upgrade for that staff. Sheets....Sheets? Have I missed something?

Sabathia is the saviour...or is he? NY is not the WS favorites at this point. Dont make WS reservations yet.

[koolzach1]

Lester, Matsuzaka and Masterson all pitched much better than Burnett last year. Wakefield was better than Burnett. Colon, when he pitched, was better than Burnett was. Beckett was better than Burnett. Burnett gets credit for msking more than 25 starts (second time in the past 6 years).

I didn't say that all these pitchers had a "better season" than Burnett....I said they were better...and they were. Some just didnt pitch as much. Although, they all did have better seasons, except Masterson and Colon.

The Yanks lost their best pitcher, Mussina. Pettitte was very average, and may be gone. Wang is coming back from an injury. Chamberlain has issues....health and otherwise. Kennedy and Hughes...well, to say they flopped is being kind. Burnett, as I said, is nothing special, although an upgrade for that staff. Sheets....Sheets? Have I missed something?

Sabathia is the saviour...or is he? NY is not the WS favorites at this point. Dont make WS reservations yet.

I don't see how you can say that Beckett, Masterson, Wakefield, and Colon were all better than Burnett last season.

Masterson primary pitched out of the bullpen, and when he pitched in the rotation, yes he was good, but it was a very small sample size... If ya wanna go that route, I'll say that Joba was one of the top 3 pitchers in all of baseball. Wakefield had a higher ERA, less wins, way less innings, way less K's, more hits given up per inning, etc... Colon had a very small sample size... Less K's per innings, more hits per inning, etc... Beckett was slightly worse than Burnett, but the state say that they're about equal.

[Swampdog]

I can say it easily, because it's the truth. I knew when I made the statement it was likely to cause confusion. At least to some people. So I will elaborate, once again.

1) Beckett and Wakefield were better than Burnett. A pitcher is ultimately graded on how well he prevents runs. K's, walks, hits allowed, etc., are all components of this. Beckett had an ERA of 4.03 to Burnetts 4.07. Beckett pitches in Fenway Park, a hitters park. Burnett pitched in Rogers Centre, a pitchers park. Thats why Beckett shows an ERA+ of 115 to Burnetts 105. In this case (unlike as in, say, Hearts, or Golf) 115 is better than 105. Wakefield, btw, was 112, also "better". Thats why I said they were better. Because they were.

2) Masterson and Colon were both better at preventing runs than Burnett was. I noted the "small sample size" originally. Small sample or not, they were still better. Burnett had a more value because he pitched a lot more innings. Nonetheless, they were still better at preventing runs, when they pitched.

3) Masterson threw 54 of his 88 innings as a starter. So the majority of his innings were not "out of the bullpen".

4) Chamberlain was not one of the top 3 pitchers in baseball, and was not even close. To the original point, Chamberlain was better than Mussina at preventing runs. Mussina had much more value overall, however, and he had the best season. Joba the Hutt may possibly be NY's best pitcher this year though, who knows?

I hope I have explained my original meaning to your satisfaction.

[ragecage]

I dont see how 106 innings or so make you top 3 in baseball referring to the comment about Joba. Good innings no doubt, but not top 3. Pitch 200 innings before you come with that noise.

[koolzach1]

I can say it easily, because it's the truth. I knew when I made the statement it was likely to cause confusion. At least to some people. So I will elaborate, once again.

1) Beckett and Wakefield were better than Burnett. A pitcher is ultimately graded on how well he prevents runs. K's, walks, hits allowed, etc., are all components of this. Beckett had an ERA of 4.03 to Burnetts 4.07. Beckett pitches in Fenway Park, a hitters park. Burnett pitched in Rogers Centre, a pitchers park. Thats why Beckett shows an ERA+ of 115 to Burnetts 105. In this case (unlike as in, say, Hearts, or Golf) 115 is better than 105. Wakefield, btw, was 112, also "better". Thats why I said they were better. Because they were.

2) Masterson and Colon were both better at preventing runs than Burnett was. I noted the "small sample size" originally. Small sample or not, they were still better. Burnett had a more value because he pitched a lot more innings. Nonetheless, they were still better at preventing runs, when they pitched.

3) Masterson threw 54 of his 88 innings as a starter. So the majority of his innings were not "out of the bullpen".

4) Chamberlain was not one of the top 3 pitchers in baseball, and was not even close. To the original point, Chamberlain was better than Mussina at preventing runs. Mussina had much more value overall, however, and he had the best season. Joba the Hutt may possibly be NY's best pitcher this year though, who knows?

I hope I have explained my original meaning to your satisfaction.

I see what you meant. I just don't necessarily agree with it. I mean, I guess I will agree that it is arguable that Beckett, Masterson, and Colon pitched better WHEN they did pitch. Burnett is a better pitcher than Masterson, Colon, and Wakefield, though. Though, I am iffy about Masterson, as he seems like he'll be a good pitcher (either in the bullpen or as a starter), but it's not like he was ever a top prospect, was he? He was always a good prospect, but never projected as a 1 or 2. I've always seen projections pointing towards him being a #3 on a good staff, and a #2 on a bad staff... We'll see, though. But, yes - I do see the point that you're trying to make.

[koolzach1]

I dont see how 106 innings or so make you top 3 in baseball referring to the comment about Joba. Good innings no doubt, but not top 3. Pitch 200 innings before you come with that noise.

Lol, man, what I meant by that was that since Swamp was referring to say that Masterson and Colon were better than Burnett last year when they did pitch... I was pointing out that makes Joba one of the best pitchers in the majors, then - I mean, since he had a sick mid 2 ERA, which would be right around top 3. I know that right now we cannot call Joba a top starter, because we haven't seen enough.